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Topic: Southern(Go-ahead) to buy trains which they will never use (Read 773 times)

Southern is starting a procurement competition for 116 dual-voltage vehicles, but admits it will never use them and is only running the competition to facilitate a cascade of trains from the Thameslink network.

Meanwhile, Southern has exercised an option for a further 40 Electrostar vehicles, and separately is also developing proposals with the Department for Transport for the new procurement competition for 116 dual-voltage vehicles (with an option for a further 100 if needed). No timescale for their delivery has yet been agreed.

Southern spokesman Chris Hudson confirmed that the extra Electrostars would be five-car Class 377/6s, and will follow the order already underway, that will see initially 29 trains delivered, with the first expected to be unveiled before the end of the year. The extra order increases that fleet to 34 five-car trains that will be used on Metro services in London.

Hudson explained that the separate order is for trains the operator will not actually use, but which will facilitate a cascade of trains from the Thameslink network.

He told RAIL: “The Southern franchise was let on the basis that it was an enabling franchise to help deliver the Thameslink Programme. The order will help enable additional capacity on Southern as well as helping to deliver the rolling stock cascade as planned under the Thameslink Rolling Stock Programme (TRSP) which is currently being delayed, to happen at the earliest opportunity. Southern has a proven track record in delivering major, complex, high-value projects such as train procurement.”

Southern Managing Director Chris Burchell said: “The potential new order for 116 carriages will be exciting news for train manufacturers and for passengers.”

One of the biggest failings of short franchises (in fact the whole franchising system) is that you need contracts like this to actually get anything built - given the huge timescales involved from inviting tenders to actually having a new train in passenger service...